Lady Demons lose on last-second basket

The Dodge City Lady Demons hounded Hays in the first half, but could never find an answer to stop the Lady Indians in the second half in a 44-42 setback Tuesday night in a Western Athletic Conference showdown.More precisely, the Lady Demons couldn't find an answer to stop Hays senior Katelyn Schumacher, who scored 16 of her career-high 22 points after intermission (including the game-winning shot with less than two seconds left on the clock).The Lady Demons (2-6, 0-3 WAC) came out as the aggressors in the first half to control the game, but didn't come out with that same intensity after intermission as the Lady Indians (5-5, 2-2) fought back with their defensive 1-3-1 zone and offensive execution."Our defense was much better in the first half," said DCHS head coach Kelley Snodgrass. "We were able to get back and pick up some charges. We were able to play well on both ends. Our girls wanted to come out aggressive and we were hoping to capitalize on their turnovers."We were more on our heels in the second half and we have to continue to be aggressive. Like I keep telling our girls that if our shots don't fall, we have to get to the free throw line or crash the boards. We just had a few defensive lapses when we got tired."The Lady Demons have lost five straight as both teams will now wait until Jan. 24 to play in the Mid-American Tournament in McPherson. The Lady Demons will find out later today who they will play in the first round of the tournament.Ciera Lampe led the Lady Demons in scoring for the second straight game with 18 points (including four 3-pointers) and five rebounds. Lampe kept Dodge City in the game after the Lady Indians made their second half run with a 3-pointer and a short basket late in the final quarter.Alexis Sanchez added nine and Chandra Sain seven for Dodge City in the loss. Schumacher also had 11 rebounds to record the double-double with no player other player scoring more than five for Hays in its victory.The Lady Indians had two chances to make a basket before Dodge City knocked the ball with six seconds left. Schumacher threw the in-bounds pass to Gagnon, who passed it back to Schumacher under the goal between two Lady Demons for the winning basket.DODGE CITY (42) — Summer Wilson 1, Rachel Durler 2, Chandra Sain 7, Alexis Sanchez 9, Katrina Roenfeldt 5, Ciera Lampe 18. Totals 15 7-12 42.HAYS (44) — Janae Gagnon 4, Taylor Herman 5, Morgan Werth 4, Emily Braun 5, Katelyn Schumacher 22, Hannah Hearld 4. Totals 17 10-12 44.Dodge City 14 11 6 11 — 42Hays 12 6 13 13 — 44Three-point baskets — Dodge City 5 (Lampe 4, Sain 1). Records — Dodge City 2-6 (0-3), Hays 5-5 (2-2).